‘Keep going, keep going fast’: Hale brothers win 2020 Recreational Class, making Iron Dog history

PALMER — To say the least, Team 77, Israel Hale and his brother Joseph had a good first Iron Dog.

The rookie brothers led the way most of the race and crossed the finish line first during the 2020 Recreational Class.

“We never expected to come in first at all,” Israel Hale said.

Team 77 was the first recreational class team to complete the 1,000-plus mile course from Fairbanks, through the new Kotzebue loop, and onto Nome. They had to navigate through with whipping winds, frozen tundra, deep and jagged snow drifts, and white out conditions.

“It was really hard but that makes it more fun and challenging. It makes it an experience,” Hale said.

Hale made Iron Dog history as he crossed the finish line in Nome Feb. 17. at 10:12 a.m. He was the first racer with a double leg amputee or any other handicap to complete a full Iron Dog run.

“It’s completely doable,” Hale said.

What’s most important to Hale is the fact that he’s done just what he set out to do. He wanted to prove he can finish the Iron Dog with the hopes of inspiring others with his story.

Through the Hale brothers’ various travels across the weather torn, Alaskan wilderness were small beacons of light. They found warmth beyond shelter at every rest stop. They met a lot of nice people who did a lot of nice things for them.

Hale related a few extra meaningful stories from the race and shortly after. At one checkpoint, a man told him that his daughter made a poster that said, “Hale brothers Team 77 nothing is impossible” and hung it up on her wall.

“That really made the whole trip worth it,” Hale said.

Hale lost his legs in an automobile accident in Anchorage eight years ago. He was struck by a vehicle while checking on a mechanical issue behind his truck’s trailer.

He walks on short prosthetics. While his movement has slowed down and it takes more time and effort to get around, he can still do a lot of things like walk, climb, and perhaps the most important to him, riding recreational vehicles like four-wheelers and snowmachines.

Hitting top speeds out in the Alaskan snow gives him a sense of freedom unlike any other. The trickiest part of riding a snowmachine with just the upper body. He said he was able to push through the long riding hours and rugged trails by just mentally pushing through it.

“Keep going, keep going fast… knowing there’s a break at the other end,” Hale said.

Each time they rolled into a new village, crowds of locals gathered around to greet them, waving and cheering them on. Hale said it was an otherworldly experience being treated like a celebrity upon arrival with countless photo opportunities.

“They’re just rooting for ya,” Hale said.

He said it was clear to see annual races like the Iron Dog and Iditarod mean a lot to rural communities like Kotzebue who offer food, shelter, mechanical assistance, and good, old fashioned, super fan enthusiasm.

“It’s like the Alaska Daytona 500,” Hale said with a laugh.

Overnights like the one in Kotzebue fueled Team 77 to brave on through the white out blizzards and countless miles of breaking new trail, not knowing quite sure if they would finish.

“It got you to the next checkpoint. It really did,” Hale said.

Five rec classes started but only two finished. Hale said that he’s excited to be able to say a couple rookies beat seasoned pros.

“We had an absolute blast,” Hale said.

Hale said that he and his brother make a good team and they plan to race in the 2021 Pro Class. He said it’s going to take a lot more training, additional sponsorship and more planning overall to make it happen.

Hale credited his family and friends for being there every step of the way. He also thanked his sponsors and the greater community for helping him get to where he is today.

“Our wives are our biggest supporters, and our children, we couldn’t do it without them,” Hale said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com